The 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time
From The Font
“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”
Ronald Reagan was (in)famous for his boldly libertarian views as governor and president of the US. He was somehow able to criticize government as a principle without criticizing himself or his administration... (His political speeches are actually quite worthy to study just for that!) His most famous turn of phrase was “Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.”
Jesus was not a libertarian! He was largely uninterested in government at any level. But He did devote a good bit of speech to being critical of the religious establishment which was also, largely, the local government. Specifically, He criticized the way in which Jewish religion was being used as a way to gain power rather than an end in itself.
When religious people find themselves gaining influence, they are immediately tempted to use that influence for self-gain. Fame is fame, wherever it comes from. If someone wants to give me gifts or lavish praise upon me or wants me to decide how they should vote or behave, it’s a serious temptation! None of us is immune to that type of power. There’s an old joke about a dog named “pastor” who is hard working and active. The dog’s owner changes his name to “monsignor” and the dog does nothing but lay around and demand to be fed and waited on...
When Jesus criticizes the marriage of religion and government, He is not saying that the two should be “strictly separated.” Rather, He is saying that the temptations to reduce religion to a servant of government are intense. And the people who are engaged in both must be morally upstanding and must prioritize the eternal before the secular. This is why it’s illegal for Catholic priests to hold civil offices (there are some exceptions).
Ultimately, in this Gospel, Jesus is criticizing the religious/political leadership of his day who, by seeking power in itself, have so sacrificed proficiency in their work that they don’t recognize Him. They are builders unable to do good work. They can’t tell that He is the salvation of the Jews. As the aphorism goes, the one who seeks power may find it, but he will lose it and himself in the process.
Thoughts from Fr. Ryan
The Knights of Columbus aren’t a giant part of our Catholic experience here in Tallulah. The nearest council is a ways off. But the KCs are a GIGANTIC part of American Catholicism - far, far more influential than we might realize.
They were established by a priest in New England who had two basic pastoral problems. One, the men of his parish saw the Freemasons, the Elks Lodges, and a slew of other secret societies that Catholics are forbidden from joining as appealing. (Catholics can’t be Freemasons and no priest can give permission to override that. The Freemasons have as part of their stated mission the “destruction of the Roman Catholic Church.”) And two, the late 1800s were a time of great upheaval in New England and the men of his parish were quite concerned about ensuring that their families would be taken care of in the event of their deaths.
So Fr. McGivney formed a Catholic alternative to the Freemasons which would also function as a proto-insurance company allowing the men to invest with one another and to care for the families of deceased members. The problems facing Fr. McGivney’s folks were universal in the US at the time and so neighboring parishes and, then, neighboring dioceses began to establish chapters of the Knights of Columbus.
By the time of the Great Wars of the 20th century, the KCs were operating full ambulance services across the US and Europe to provide charitable aid to soldiers on the field, to the war wounded back in the US, and to the families of soldiers.
Our own Bishop Greco was hugely influential in making the KCs a financial, charitable, and devotional juggernaut. He was the chief bishop of the KCs for years and his image still hangs in the lobby of their world headquarters in Connecticut.
The KCs reached their height during the pontificate of Pope St. John Paul II. He believed in their mission and they donated lots of cash to make World Youth Day in Denver and other papal visits to the US successful. Sadly, Pope Francis has been significantly less supportive as have some US bishops who find the KCs too Catholic and not ecumenical enough for their tastes. Even so, the KCs are gaining traction in other parts of the world as Catholic men in the developing world face the same problems that Catholic men in the US faced a century ago.
One of the priorities for the KCs was securing the status of Columbus Day as a federal holiday. I don’t honestly understand why this day is such a source of consternation... Local celebrations of Columbus Day go back to 1792. Italians are especially devoted to it. Protestant Christians really didn’t want it to be a national holiday. But in 1934, an Italian New Yorker named Generoso Pope and the national leadership of the Knights of Columbus successfully lobbied congress to pass a resolution calling for President FDR to proclaim October 12 a new federal holiday entitled Columbus Day. FDR did so.
Self-loathing modern whingers have tried to replace it with “Indigenous Peoples' Day,” but as of this writing, it remains a day of celebrating our heritage and God’s providence.
Mass Intentions for the Coming Week
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Payton Trichell/family
- Sun 9:30a Pro Populo for the Living & Deceased Members of our Parish
- Mon No Mass
- Tue 9:00a In memory of Skeezix Jumonville/family
- Wed 9:00a In memory of Leon Humphries
- Thu 9:00a (Legacy Nursing & Rehab) In memory of Edgar Lancaster/family
- Fri 5:30p In memory of Alex Jumonville/family
- Sat 5:30p In memory of Pat Bullard, Patrick Thomas, and Eva and R.L. Reynolds/Bullard
- Sun 9:30a Populo for the Living Deceased Members of our Parish
ALTAR CANDLES this week are burning for the special intentions of Margo Corulla
Assistants at Holy Mass
| Date | Servers | Lectors | EMHCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/7 5:30p | None Scheduled | P Wilks | L Magoun |
| 10/8 9:30a | Kathleen & Evelyn | K Collins | None Scheduled |
| 10/14 5:30p | None Scheduled | MK Book | M Rome |
| 10/15 9:30a | Chandler & Annie | Youth | None Scheduled |
| 10/21 5:30p | None Scheduled | L Bullard | A Keene |
| 10/22 9:30a | MaryKatherine & Courtland | D Ellerbee | None Scheduled |
Upcoming Events
- Confessions every Friday & Saturday from 5p until Mass and on Sunday from 9a until Mass
- Sunday Catechism with Coffee and Donuts after Mass unless otherwise indicated
- Wednesday Morning Catechism about 9:30 a.m in Church and on Facebook and YouTube
Pastoral Council meeting monthly on the third Wednesday at 6p
October 8 Sunday Catechism following the 9:30a Mass.
- October 13 Quarterly Mass for Healing at the regular 5:30p Mass.
- October 14 Feast of St Edward the Confessor — Saturday Potluck Supper in Church hall following Saturday Mass.
- October 18 Pastoral Council Meeting at 6p.
For Your Information:
NEXT WEEKEND is our PARISH PATRONAL FEAST! The readings and prayers at Mass will be proper to St Edward the Confessor and, despite the LSU Home Game, we’ll have a simple SATURDAY POT LUCK in the Hall following the 5:30p Mass.
ROSARY GROUP… a group of parishioners is meeting on Monday at 5:30 p.m. to pray the Rosary. Everyone is invited to join the group. If you need additional information, please contact the Coordinator, Louise Magoun, at 318-341-2403.
PILGRIMAGE!... Fr Ryan is leading a Pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome in Italy in September of 2024. More information is available at HolyTravels.org/FrHumphriesItaly . Please pass the word around!
FORMED.ORG… FORMED has an entire page of weekly featured videos that are worth checking out at https://watch.formed.org/this-week-on-formed. Remember to sign in using our parish’s zip code (71282) at http://signup.formed.org
CHOIR FOR CHRISTMAS ON THE BAYOU… This year’s music program for the December festival is “The King is Here.” The performance is scheduled for December 3 at First Baptist Church followed by the fireworks program on the bayou. Practice has begun and will be at 4 p.m. each Sunday afternoon. If you would like to join in to make a joyful noise, please do so!
Stewardship In the Gospel today, the owner of the vineyard sent messengers to collect his share of the harvest from the tenant farmers; but, there was not a single good steward on the property! God is the owner, we are the tenants. What sort of stewards are we?
SECOND COLLECTION is for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Alexandria (your envelope will show Office of Life & Justice).
Our Return to the Lord
| Weekly Budget FY 2022-23 | $ 2,111 |
| September Budget | $ 8,444 |
| September income | $ 6,442 |
| September Expenses | $ 11,006 |
| October Budget | $ 10,555 |
| October 1 Collection | $ 1,697 |
| October Income To Date | $ 1,697 |
Let us Rejoice in the Lord!
Happy Birthday Sharyn Marsh (Oct 8), Marsh Wood (Oct 11), Sidney Johnson (Oct 13), Kenny Smith (Oct 14), William Marsh (Oct 16)
In Our Daily Prayers…
Please let us know of anyone who is ill or hospitalized and would like to receive a visit from Father. Also, help us keep our prayer list up to date by advising us of those who should be added or removed.
Our Pope Francis; Bishop Robert Marshall, and our Diocesan leaders, our President, Governor, Mayor and national, state and local elected representatives
Our parishioners who are sick, shut-in, or otherwise in need of our prayers: Connie and Dan Copes, Elizabeth Crothers, Leslye Ellerbee, Susan and Johnny Gilfoil, Margaret and Pat Gilfoil, Terry Farlow Hall, C.W. and Alyce Keene, Bill Kennedy, Hannah Wood McCarty, Ed Mills, Terry and Susie Murphy, Bobby Reynolds, Sue & Mike Rome
Those under full-time care: Frances Kennedy, Carol Dunning, Keith Capdepon
Our friends and relatives who need our prayers: Lee Adams (Smith), Ashley Alexander (Regan), Graham Allen (S Gilfoil), Kathryn Wood Allsopp (D Wood), Pam Amacker (Gilfoil), James Arceneaux (Book), Marie Farlow Bellard, Tommy Bickham (C Copes), Chris Breard (Gilfoil), Sarah Cannon (Gilfoil), Fran Castile (Keene), Jeannie and Donald Collins, Jami Cook (Wilks), Bobbe and Gene Cox, Marla Evans Cummings, Susan Ward Daigle (Gilfoil & Keene), Don Deweese, Carol Dipert (Rome), Mac Donaldson (Ellerbee), Joe Farlow, Mike Farlow, Patty Farlow, Monique Florence, Judy Fortenberry, April Franklin (Wilks), Thom Gilfoil, Wyly Gilfoil (Gilfoil), Charlotte Green, Rita Hargrave, Arlice Evans Headley, Evie Hilburn (Lancaster), Charles Howington, Will Irby (P Gilfoil), Dee Jones (Keene), LaLa Lopez (Hernandez), Caroline Marcello (Watts), Michelle McGuire(Gilfoil), Kiely McKellar (S Gilfoil), Mona Martin (MA Gilfoil), Cindy Mathieu (Wilks), Boyce Miller, John Neill, Caryn Oliver, Wayne Pitre (Gilfoil), Bailey, Scott and Tiffney Rome, Dianne W. Roper (Murphy), Janie Saxon (Lancaster), George and Ann Shepherd, Debbie Kedrick Sims, Tommy Trichell, LeeAnn Rome Tranchina (Rome), Mary Claire Warner and her parents , MaryBeth and Steve
Our collegiates: Aidan Collins, Preston Collins, Callie Ezell, Lilly Falgout, Jag Gilfoil, Chris Hall (USMC), Nick Hall, Bruen Johnson, Matilda Johnson, Caroline Marsh, Emmy Lu Marsh, Blake Sullivan, Carter Sullivan, Walker Sullivan, Marsh Wood
Condolences to the family of Margie Wood who died this week.
PRAYERS FOR OUR FARMERS! O God, Source and Giver of all things, Who manifests Your infinite majesty, power and goodness in the earth about us, we giveYou honor and glory. For the sun and rain, for the manifold fruits of our fields,for the increase of our herds and flocks we thank You. For the enrichment of our souls with divine grace, we are grateful. Supreme Lord of the harvest, graciously accept us and the fruits of our toil, in union with Christ Your Son, as atonement for our sins, for the growth of Your Church, for peace and charity in our homes, for salvation to all. Amen.
